Elephant Polo

Elephant Polo Rules

• The game is played between two teams consisting of four players in each team. The pitch is 100-120 meters in length and 60-80 meters in width.
• Each gameplay generally consists of two chukkers comprise of 10 minutes each with a time interval of 15 minutes. The referee signals with a whistle for every start and stop of the match.
• The playing pitch is marked with a centre line that will differentiate the court into two halves. A circle should be placed at the centre, having a radius 10 metres with a semi-circle of 20 meters radius in front of the goal post.
• A foul is considered if there are two defending elephants stand at the goal semi-circle. When a foul is committed, the advantage is given to the attacking team from the point the ball was located. 
• All the defending team elephants should be placed 15 meters away from the ball. For this, the elephants are required to be placed outside the D-area.
• A Mahout is originally assigned to control the elephant with extreme care. The mahout is also not permitted to be replaced during the match except he/she is injured.
• A foul is rewarded if any team member’s elephant lies down in front of the goal front. In this, a free hit is awarded to the opponent team from a distance of 20 meters away from D.
• It is also not permitted to pick up the ball by the trunk of an elephant. This will be regarded as a foul, and a free hit is again awarded to the opposing team. 
• If a participant hooks the opponent’s stick, or deliberately crosses the elephant or hits another player or the referee with a stick, then it is counted as a foul. 
• Each elephant is changed after the half time, along with the direction of the ends.
• Both male and female players are required to play on the right side of their elephant. Although female players can use both their hands to hold the polo stick to hit the ball. 
• Every throw-in or the set pieces are required to be placed off-side to off-side.
• It’s completely forbidden to use the Ankush or any pointed and sharp object during the entire match. If a player is guilty, he/she will be disqualified immediately.